In front of the Hokage Building, Zhang Bairen took a deep breath.
After regaining his composure, he directly asked the ninja on duty for an audience with the Third Hokage.
Soon, the application was approved, and Zhang Bairen entered the Hokage Building.
At this moment, the slightly weakened Hiruzen Sarutobi was savoring the wonderful content of the erotic novel.
Knock! Knock!
Zhang Bairen knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Hiruzen Sarutobi's gentle voice came from inside the door.
Zhang Bairen pushed open the door and entered, where he saw the Third Hokage behind the desk.
"Hyakunin, what brings you here?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"Lord Hokage, my trading company has provided me with some high-grade tobacco."
I figured I didn't smoke anyway, so there was no point in keeping it. I might as well give it to the Hokage.
After all, the Hokage works tirelessly day and night, exhausting his spirit and energy for us and the village. He deserves the love and respect of the villagers.” Zhang Bairen said, taking out an exquisite tobacco gift box.
"Oh, high-grade tobacco?" Hiruzen Sarutobi showed a hint of interest.
"According to my men, this high-grade tobacco is mainly used to make cigars."
I don't really know what a cigar is, but it's definitely a high-class item.
It is said that nobles with refined tastes would roll the most expensive cigars on the legs of innocent young girls.
"Lord Hokage, have you ever heard of cigars?" Zhang Bairen asked curiously.
"I seem to have heard of that." As a heavy smoker, Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, trying to remain calm.
"Look, these are the different grades of tobacco."
The higher the grade, the richer the aroma, but the more addictive it is.
"If you lack self-control, do not inhale it, otherwise it may harm your health." Zhang Bairen said, opening the exquisite gift box.
Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed nonchalantly, then replied, "Hahaha, tobacco is addictive and harmful to the human body."
However, for a heavy smoker like me, quitting is impossible.
"Then please try your best to control the situation, Hokage-sama. The village still needs you to guide it."
"Tobacco is good, but you can't overdo it!" Zhang Bairen advised.
"You don't understand. Without tobacco to keep me awake, I can't handle all the documents and matters in the village."
"I'm old now, and I don't have the energy I used to have," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, lighting his pipe as if no one else was around.
Inhale, exhale!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, exhaling clouds and mist, looked extremely content.
"Lord Hokage, although it may be offensive, I must advise you..."
Before Zhang Bairen could finish speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted and answered.
"Alright, Bai Ren, I know your good intentions."
However, I'm old now and probably won't be able to smoke for many more years, so please don't worry about me and let me do as I please.
Also, weren't you supposed to be delivering tobacco to me?
"Bring it up here, let me see the situation." Hiruzen Sarutobi said, coughing lightly twice.
His weakened body from the nosebleed, combined with the stimulation of tobacco, made Hiruzen Sarutobi even weaker.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Zhang Bairen said, placing the gift box on his desk.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up a small pinch of tobacco and sniffed it.
“Indeed, it is top-quality tobacco,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
Zhang Bairen breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly undetected.
People in the ninja world probably have never seen a colorless and odorless substance purified by modern technology.
Even a medical ninja probably wouldn't be able to detect the special, potent ingredient in the tobacco.
Not to mention Hiruzen Sarutobi right in front of us.
"Lord Hokage, the five grades of this pack of tobacco represent the purity of its aroma."
Once it reaches the second purity level, it should not be inhaled, otherwise it will be highly addictive.
"This kind of high-grade tobacco is very difficult to obtain in large quantities. If the Hokage becomes addicted, I'll be in a difficult situation," Zhang Bairen reminded him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and replied casually, "Don't worry, this level of tobacco, while extremely rare, is not so irresistible as to me."
I've been smoking for decades, I have more right to say this than you do.
Seeing that the Hokage wouldn't listen to his advice, Zhang Bairen sighed helplessly.
Of course, Zhang Bairen was secretly overjoyed.
Tech-savvy tobacco, whatever you like.
After accepting the tobacco, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked gently, "Hyakunin, I heard that your new novel seems to be about to be released."
What's the plot like? Is there any story about me? Does it promote Konoha Village? Does it glorify the Land of Fire?
Zhang Bairen shook his head and replied, "No, this is a fantasy novel that does not involve the ninja world."
The content is entirely fictional; the plot is entirely based on my imagination.
Just as the promotional slogan says, the world in the novel has no ninjutsu or ninjas, only the power system I imagined—battle aura!
"I see. So, do you have...?"
"What I mean is, you and Jiraiya are in frequent contact. In your new book, did you learn anything bad from him and describe any vulgar or obscene things?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was both gentle and kind.
But his expression turned somewhat lewd and curious.
Zhang Bairen smiled knowingly and then replied, "Love between men and women is human nature. Although my novels do not depict these things excessively, there are still plots about marriage and having children."
"Oh, that's good, that's good. It's good that you didn't learn bad things from that guy," Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself.
"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sensei. Jiraiya-sensei and I are just having an academic exchange; it won't affect each other," Zhang Bairen continued in reply.
"Speaking of which, I wonder where Jiraiya has gone."
"Next time you write, you can try to persuade him to come back to the village when he has time, and tell him that I miss him very much," Hiruzen Sarutobi advised.
"Okay, I understand, Lord Hokage." Zhang Bairen nodded in agreement.
"Well, that's enough for now. I need to get back to processing my documents." The ever-gentle Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order to leave.
"Then you continue with your work, I'll take my leave now." After saying that, Zhang Bairen turned and left the room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his cigarette ash, then asked in a deep voice, "How are you feeling? Is there anything unusual about this genius writer with such a clean background?"
Inside the office, from the shadows in the corner, emerged a gloomy man with black hair, wearing a black coat and a white undershirt, and with one eye bandaged.
"I'm just like you, I didn't see anything either."
"This young man either has no problems or has very big problems!" Shimura Danzo replied.
"I see." Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then picked up the tobacco gift box and handed it to Danzo Shimura.
"I just shut down my sense of smell. Take this and check it. If there's nothing wrong, bring this box of tobacco over again," Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered.
"Hmph, cautious fellow!" Shimura Danzo sneered in a low voice.
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